The Heart of Ministry: Pointing to Jesus

In John 3, a potential rivalry emerges between the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus, both calling people to repentance and preparing hearts for God’s kingdom. This situation highlights a temptation that is all too familiar in our own context: the urge to compare, compete, and build our own little “kingdoms” rather than cooperating for the sake of the gospel. Just as the proliferation of chicken restaurants each claims to be the best, so too can churches and ministries become territorial, forgetting that the mission is not about us, but about Christ.

John the Baptist’s response to his disciples’ jealousy is a model of humility and clarity. He reminds them that no one can receive anything unless it is given from heaven. Ministry is not something we manufacture or possess; it is a stewardship, a gift from God to be held with open hands. John’s calling was not to build a personal following, but to point people to Jesus, the true Bridegroom. His joy was complete not when people flocked to him, but when they went to Jesus. “He must increase, I must decrease” is the heartbeat of all faithful ministry.

This attitude is not just for pastors or those in formal leadership. Every believer, having been born again, is called into ministry—whether in the church, the home, the workplace, or the community. We are a royal priesthood, called to proclaim the excellencies of Christ. The gifts and opportunities we have are not for our own glory, but for the strengthening of the body and the magnifying of Jesus’ name. When we make ministry about ourselves—our preferences, our reputation, our sense of indispensability—we rob God of glory and set ourselves up for disappointment.

Instead, we are called to serve with humility, holding our roles loosely, always ready to celebrate when Christ is exalted, even if it means we fade into the background. The measure of success is not how many follow us, but how faithfully we point others to Jesus. Like John the Baptist, our greatest joy should be to hear the voice of the Bridegroom and to see Him receive all that is rightfully His. May we steward our ministries well, making much of Jesus and little of ourselves, trusting that the gospel is enough and that God is sovereign over every opportunity to serve.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Ministry is a Gift, Not a Possession Every opportunity to serve is a stewardship from God, not something we own or control. The temptation to compare or compete with others in ministry is rooted in pride and insecurity. True contentment comes from recognizing that all gifts and opportunities are sovereignly given by God, and our role is to be faithful with what He entrusts to us. [53:28]
• 2. The Heart of Ministry: Pointing to Jesus, Not Ourselves John the Baptist’s unwavering focus was to direct attention away from himself and toward Christ. He understood that his purpose was not to gather a following, but to prepare people for Jesus and rejoice when they went to Him. Our ministries should be measured by how well we point others to Jesus, not by how central we are to the story. [57:39]
• 3. Humility is Essential for Faithful Service Holding our ministries with open hands requires humility—a willingness to decrease so that Christ may increase. Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less, and making much of Jesus in all we do. When we serve with this posture, we find joy in Christ’s glory rather than our own recognition. [1:06:06]
• 4. Every Believer Has a Ministry Ministry is not reserved for pastors or those with formal titles; every Christian is called to serve. Whether in the church, the home, the workplace, or the neighborhood, God has given each of us gifts and opportunities to proclaim His excellencies. Discovering and using our spiritual gifts is both a privilege and a responsibility for the building up of the body. [35:20]
• 5. Joy is Found in Christ’s Increase, Not Our Prominence John’s joy was made full when people went to Jesus, not when they stayed with him. Lasting joy in ministry comes from seeing Christ exalted, even if it means our own role diminishes. When we delight in the Bridegroom’s voice and glory, we are freed from the burdens of comparison and competition, and our service becomes an act of worship. [1:01:00]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [25:25] - Introduction: The “Chicken Problem” and Ministry Competition
• [28:09] - John the Baptist and Jesus: Parallel Ministries
• [29:39] - The Temptation of Territorial Ministry
• [31:16] - Observing Church Culture and Cooperation
• [32:45] - Ministry as Stewardship, Not Ownership
• [35:08] - Every Believer’s Calling to Ministry
• [37:00] - The Greatness and Example of John the Baptist
• [39:58] - Setting the Scene: Baptism and Repentance
• [41:47] - Jesus’ Investment in His Disciples
• [44:33] - The Nature of Baptism: Repentance vs. Christian Baptism
• [46:57] - John’s Deliberate Ministry Location
• [49:32] - The Question of Purification and Competition
• [53:28] - John’s Response: Ministry as a Gift from God
• [57:39] - The Purpose of Ministry: Pointing to Jesus
• [59:41] - The Bridegroom Analogy and Joy in Christ
• [1:03:33] - The Imperative: He Must Increase, I Must Decrease
• [1:06:06] - Holding Ministry with Open Hands
• [1:08:04] - Prayer for Humility and Faithful Service

Bible Study Discussion Guide: “He Must Increase, I Must Decrease”

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Bible Reading

John 3:22–30 (ESV)
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.
23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized
24 (for John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”
27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’
29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Matthew 11:11 (ESV)
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

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Observation Questions

1. What was the concern that John the Baptist’s disciples brought to him about Jesus and his ministry? (John 3:26; [50:41])
2. How did John the Baptist describe his own role in relation to Jesus? (John 3:28–29; [59:41])
3. According to John the Baptist, where does the ability or opportunity for ministry come from? (John 3:27; [53:28])
4. What does 1 Peter 2:9 say about the identity and calling of every believer?

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Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think John’s disciples felt threatened or jealous when people started going to Jesus instead of John? What does this reveal about human nature and ministry? ([52:07])
2. John says, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” How does this truth challenge the way people often view their roles, gifts, or positions in the church? ([53:28])
3. John’s joy was “complete” when people went to Jesus, not when they stayed with him. What does this teach about the true goal and heart of ministry? ([59:41])
4. 1 Peter 2:9 calls all believers a “royal priesthood.” How does this shape the way Christians should think about their everyday lives and opportunities to serve? ([35:20])

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Application Questions

1. The sermon compared ministry competition to the “chicken problem”—many restaurants, each claiming to be the best. Have you ever felt tempted to compare your ministry, service, or church to others? How did that affect your attitude or actions? ([29:39])
2. John the Baptist held his ministry with “open hands,” seeing it as a stewardship, not a possession. Is there an area of service or influence in your life that you tend to hold onto too tightly? What would it look like to hold it more loosely and trust God with it? ([53:28]; [01:06:06])
3. “He must increase, I must decrease.” In what practical ways can you make more of Jesus and less of yourself in your current roles—at church, at home, or at work? ([01:03:33])
4. The sermon said that every believer has a ministry, not just pastors or leaders. Where do you sense God has given you opportunities to serve or influence others for Christ? How are you using your gifts right now? ([35:20])
5. When have you found yourself seeking recognition or feeling indispensable in your service? How can you shift your focus to finding joy in Christ being exalted, even if your role is less visible? ([01:01:00])
6. The sermon warned that making ministry about ourselves leads to disappointment and robs God of glory. Can you think of a time when this happened to you or someone you know? What did you learn from that experience? ([58:24])
7. What is one specific step you can take this week to encourage or celebrate someone else’s ministry, rather than feeling threatened or competitive? ([32:29])

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Close in prayer, asking God to give your group humble hearts like John the Baptist, to make much of Jesus, and to steward every opportunity for His glory.